On the back of his breakthrough season with RB Leipzig, striker Timo Werner expects a fiery start in Sochi.

"It is conceivable that we will play different systems in the tournament, even maybe during a game".

15' - Germany win a free-kick down the right when Luongo fouls Draxler; Hector swings over, and Stindl is up, but can only head over the top.

"The five minutes just before half-time once we got back into it and then again just after [half-time]".

Germany almost settled the game when Timo Werner hit the post late on, but the world champions would cling on to secure a 3-2 win.

"I repeat what I said before the tournament: we have a young team that needs this kind of tournament".

"I played in Germany and I know very well what they're about". Inevitably the focus on Germany has centered on its callow squad, containing only three world champions from 2014 while numerous established stars have been given a break.

"They (Germany) caused us problems down the left-hand side and we had to move things around after the break".

"It's a great opening game for us, against the world champions, who want to want to win the World Cup next year".

"The Confed Cup is like a gift for me", said Loew, Germany's coach for more than a decade, in Sunday's press conference in Sochi.

"Leon Goretzka always digs deep, he is technically and physically strong and was very good today", Loew said in praise of the 22-year-old Goretzka.

"In the first half we should have made more with our chances", said captain Paris Saint-Germain's Julian Draxler, who netted Germany's second goal with a penalty.

World-class goalkeeper Neuer is recovering from foot surgery, so Bayer Leverkusen's shot-stopper Bernd Leno is tasked with keeping Australia's attack at bay. His hat-trick against San Marino in Germany's last game before they head to Russian Federation signaled his intent. Germany is blessed with a ludicrously deep pool of players, and probably has enough talent to form at least two 23-man squads that could qualify for the World Cup out of Europe.

Despite being under the cosh for the majority of the opening hour, Leno's lapses in concentration kept Australia in the contest and it was Ange Postecoglou's team who were pushing late on for an equaliser.

"One thing we won't underestimate is their ability to play the kind of football they've been renowned for".

Milligan and his teammates will scrutinize footage of Cameroon's 2-0 loss to Chile in their first group game, where defensive fragility could have been more soundly punished by the back-to-back Copa America champions.